Patentamt

J E u r o p European
a i s c h e sPatent Office (TO Publication number: 0 1 3 1 4 2 8

B1
Office europeen des brevets

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

Date of publication of patent specification: 02.11.88 int. ci.4: C 22 C 2 1 / 0 0 , F 1 6 C 33/1 2

Application number: 84304575.8

Date of filing: 04.07.84

Aluminium based bearing alloys.

Priority: 05.07.83 GB 8318156 Proprietor: AEPLC

Cawston House Cawston Rugby
Warwickshire, CV22 7SA (GB)
(§) Date of publication of application:
16.01.85 Bulletin 85/03
Inventor: Eastwood, Barry John
25 Place Farm Way Monks Risborough
Publication of the grant of the patent: Aylesbury Buckinghamshire (GB)
02.11.88 Bulletin 88/44
Representative: Rees, David Christopher et al
Designated Contracting States: Kilbum & Strode 30 John Street
AT DE FR GB IT SE London WC1N2DD(GB)

References cited:
(58) References cited: BARRY 'Tin and its alloys, 1983, pages 122-124,
WO-A-83/01463 Ellis Horwood Ltd.
DE-A-2 131 884
FR-A-1 321 273
GB-A-597113
CD GB-A-623 486
GB-A-1 073428
GB-A-1 433 890
CM GB-A-2121435
US-A-3167 404
MONDOLFO "Aluminium alloys", Butterworths
(1979), page 377-378

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may
give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall
a. be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
in paid. (Art. 99(1 ) European patent convention).
Courier Press, Leamington Spa, England.
 0 131 428

Description
The present invention relates to aluminium alloys for use as bearing materials, for example for use in
internal combustion engines.
5 For these applications, one known bearing material is Al Sn20% Cu1 %. This is a widely used bearing
material having good fatigue strength and seizure resistance, and being able to perform happily against
forged steel and cast iron journals without the use of an electroplated overlay. Changes in engine design
have resulted in the increased use of turbocharged petrol engines and high speed diesel engines for
automotive applications. This has provided a requirement for a bearing alloy capable of being used against
70 forged steel and cast iron crankshafts without an electroplated overlay with a higher fatigue rating than
AISn20Cu1.
Good anti-seizure properties and high fatigue strength are conflicting requirements in an engine
bearing alloy, since the latter is associated with high hardness and the former is associated with low
hardness.
75 One known high strength bearing alloy is Al Si1 1% Cu1 % in which the silicon is finely and uniformly
distributed. The anti-seizure properties of this alloy derive from the uniform dispersion of fine silicon
particles and the presence of the copper; both these elements help to provide a degree of fatigue strength.
The high fatigue strength is still further increased by the provision of an electroplated overlay of lead/tin
over a nickel or copper/zinc interlayer.
20 This A!Si11Cu1 alloy has become well established commercially as the lining of steel backed
crankshaft bearings in internal combustion engines, particularly high speed diesel engines.
However, the high silicon content renders the alloy unsuitable for bore broaching techniques which
can be very much more economical as a mass production technique than the use of conventional boring
machinery.
25 Bearing alloys of the Al-Si-Sn-Cu type are disclosed in GB 2121435 (WO— A—8301463). This reference
discloses an alloy composition of 0.5 to 5% silicon, 1 to 35% tin, copper or magnesium in the range of 0.1 to
2%, remainder being aluminium. This material is claimed to exhibit high seizure resistance, conformability
and compatability. Furthermore, GB 623486 discloses a bearing alloy composed essentially of aluminium
with, additionally, 8.01 to 20% tin and 0.02 to 10% silicon. This alloy may also include, amongst many other
30 ingredients, up to 6% copper.
"Aluminium Alloys" by L. Mondolfo, on pages 377—8 shows that in Al-Sn alloys the tin is always
present as a "network", which is broken by plastic deformation. Annealing to spheroidise the tin improves
the properties.
"Tin and its Alloys and Compounds" by B. Barry on pages 122—124 shows that in AI-20Sn bearing
35 alloys in cast-forms, tin is present as complete intergranular films. Breaking down this structure with
subsequent annealing treatment in order to spheroidise the tin partially results in a "reticular" network of
tin particles in the Al-matrix, which usually contains about 1% copper to solution-harden it.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a bearing material having an increased fatigue
strength while still exhibiting good anti-seizure properties, good conformability, good compatibility, and
40 good dirt embedability.
"Conformability" is the term given to the ability of a bearing lining to accept small misalignments
between itself and the rotating member, while "compatability" is the ability to resist local welding between
the bearing alloy and the counterface in regions of asperity contact during rubbing.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a bearing material which, with an overlay can provide a
45 very high degree of fatigue strength but which can be mass produced at lower cost.
According to the present invention there is provided a bearing alloy including aluminium, silicon, tin
and copper characterised in that it comprises from 2 to 8% by weight silicon, from 8 to 20% by weight tin,
and from 0.2 to 3% by weight copper optionally 0.05% by weight of strontium or sodium, the balance being
aluminium the tin phase being in reticular form, and the silicon being present as particles which do not
50 exceed 20 microns in size and that about 60% of the silicon is incorporated or encapsulated in the tin phase.
The silicon content is preferably from 3 to 5%, for example 4% by weight. The tin content is preferably
10 or 11% by weight, and the copper content is preferably 1% by weight.
It has been found that alloys in accordance with the invention meet the above objective and possess
the necessary attributes in respect of fatigue strength, anti-seizure properties, compatability and
55 conformability, and embedability.
"Reticular" as applied to an aluminium/tin alloy refers to one in which the aluminium and tin phases
are both continuous, the tin phase being continuous along the aluminium grain edges or trigonal
boundaries. The silicon is preferably in particulate form in the alloy.
It is believed that the good properties of bearings in accordance with the invention may possibly only
50 be obtained when the tin is reticular and incorporates about 60% of the silicon. The question of silicon
particle size is important for proper seizure resistance. The particles do not exceed 20 microns in size and
are more preferably all less than 4 microns. In fact, it may be desirable to include in the alloy a small
quantity e.g. 0.05% of strontium or a small quantity e.g. 0.05% of sodium so as to modify the silicon
eutectic and reduce the particle size.
65 With a tin content of at least 8%, the alloy cannot easily be hot-rolled without the risk of the tin being
 0 131 428

squeezed out. Thus, a silicon content approaching 3 to 5% by weight is preferred since such an alloy has
been found to be capable of being cold rolled and it can also be machined easily. In particular bore
broaching is possible. Furthermore, where normal cutting tools are used for materials in accordance with
the invention, for example for applications other than bearings, wear on the tools may be reduced.
The invention also extends to the novel bearing alloy described above bonded to a backing either in the
form of a strip of bearing material or as formed bearings. The backing is preferably of steel or aluminium or
aluminium alloy, though where a steel backing is used, an aluminium or aluminium alloy foil layer is used
between the steel and the bearing alloy to assist in bonding. The bearing may be formed directly or first
formed as a blank and subsequently formed into the desired shape.
10 In order to assess the fatigue strength, a bearing having a lining in accordance with the present
invention was tested under dynamic loading conditions running against a shaft to which eccentrically
positioned weights were attached. The material in accordance with the invention was an alloy comprising
Al Si4Sn11 Cu1 and this was compared with two existing alloys, namely, Al Sn20 Cu1 and Al Si11 Cu1.
After 20 hours at a specific load of 2980 Ibf/in2 (20.55 MPA) the bearing in accordance with the invention
15 showed no fatigue failure while the two bearings having linings of the known materials had both failed.
Regarding compatability, a bearing bush having a lining in accordance with the invention was tested
against one lined with the known Al Sn20 Cu1 alloy. In the test, a cylindrical bush 5/8 inch (1.6 cm) diameter
3/4 inch (1.9 cm) in length was located on a shaft. The shaft was rotated at 1500 rpm for 1i minutes under
lubrication and then left stationary for 4i minutes to allow the lubricant to be squeezed out of the loaded
20 area of the bearing. The test cycle consisted of repeating this sequence 10 times. The test cycle was
repeated with different upward loads applied to the bush, then further tested for 1300 test cycles at
maximum load. The results are summarised in Table 1.
TABLE 1
25 1300 c y c l e s a t
Load in N/mm at s e i z u r e
15Nmm2

6 9 12 15 seizure Survived
Alloy
30 Al Sn20 Cul 3 2 1
Al Si4 Snll+ 2
Cul

35 Six samples of each material were tested and as can be seen from Table 1, the compatability of the
material in accordance with the invention showed much improvement.
A material in accordance with the invention was also tested against two known materials to assess the
relative seizure resistance.
Thus, "Sapphire" seizure tests have been carried out to compare the performance of Al Sn11 Si4 Cu1,
40 Al Sn20 Cu1 and Cu Pb25 Sn1 .5 against nodular cast shafts. The Cu/Pb bearings were plated with 5 urn Ni
and 5 urn PbSn and heat treated at 160°Cfor 100 hours before test. This was done to simulate the condition
of an overlay plated bearing after many hours of running in an engine.
The Sapphire seizure test was carried out on a Sapphire test rig under the following conditions:
1. The bearings were machined to half length to facilitate the use of higher specific loads than can
45 normally be obtained on full size bearings.
2. The lubricating oil (SAE10) was preheated to 120°C.
3. The rig was run for 1 hour at 100 MPa.
4. The load was increased by 20 MPa and the rig run for 10 minutes at the new load. This procedure
was repeated until seizure occurred or the back of the bearing temperature rose rapidly to above 160°C.
50 The load at which seizure occurred is the Sapphire seizure rating.
The results are shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2

Seizure Load (MPa)

55
N o d u l a r Cast Steel
Iron S h a f t s Shaft

60 (AlSnllSi4Cul) 240 250

(AlSn20Cul) 140 230
(CuPb25Snl.5) 120 140

65
 0 131 428

Each of the above results is the mean of several tests. From the results it is concluded that the material
in accordance with the invention is more seizure resistant than AISn20Cu1 particularly when operating
against a nodular cast iron counterface. The CuPb25Sn1.5 bearings seized when the overlay was lost by
wear.
It has been suggested in some prior art references that other additions such as chromium or
manganese might be added to this general type of bearing material in order to increase its strength.
However, it is believed that in the case of the present invention, these additions could well interfere with the
reticulation of the tin phase, and as a consequence lower the fatigue strength.
When a very high strength bearing alloy is required for example for use with turbocharged engines and
10 larger high speed diesel engines the bearing layer in accordance with the invention may be overlay plated
with a soft overlay. The overlay preferably comprises a lead-based alloy such as lead/tin or lead/tin/copper,
or tin/antimony, or tin/antimony/copper, or a combination of the metals, lead, tin, antimony and copper.
Underneath the overlay, there may be an interlayer of any one of the following: nickel, iron, silver, cobalt,
copper zinc or copper tin. These may help to prevent diffusion of constituents of the overlay into the
is aluminium alloy.
Table 3 shows examples of preferred alloy compositions in accordance with the invention. The figures
are all weight percentages and the balance in each case is aluminium. In all cases, about 60% of the silicon
is substantially contained within the tin phase.
TABLE 3
20
Tin "
Silicon Copper

25
A 2 20 1
B 4 10 1
C 4 11 2
30 D 8 8 3

Preliminary tests suggest that, of the examples shown in the table, alloy composition B is the most
preferred, followed by composition C.
35 The invention will now be illustrated by comparing one method of preparing a steel-backed bearing
strip for forming bearings having a lining in accordance with the invention, with a known method for
forming a similar strip having a lining of Al Sn20 Cu1.
In the case of the known alloy, a rectangular billet is first cast having a thickness of 25 mm. The billet is
cut to lengths of 600 mm, the edges removed by sawing, and annealed at 350°C for 3 hours. The surfaces of
40 the billet are then machined so as to reduce its thickness to 19 mm. This is then clad on each face with a
1.5 mm thick layer of aluminium foil taking the overall thickness back to 22 mm. Next, the strip is cold rolled
(to minimise tin exudation) down to 0.89 mm in a number of stages. Typical stages are 11 mm, 7.76 mm,
5.09 mm, 3.55 mm, 2.49 mm, 1.93 mm, 1.49 mm, 1.14 mm, and 0.89 mm, at which stage the strip is
trimmed and bonded to the steel backing.
45 In the case of the alloy according to the invention, it is necessary to break up the silicon to make the
material more ductile, both for rolling down and for bonding to the steel backing. A rectangular billet
25 mm thick is cast as previously and again cut into 600 mm lengths with the edges removed by sawing.
The surfaces of the billet are machined so as to reduce its thickness to 19 mm and the billets annealed at
490°C for 16 hours. The billet is then rolled down to 7.7 mm in 5 stages, these typically being 19 mm,
50 15 mm, 12 mm, 9 mm and 7.7 mm. At this stage, the strip is annealed for a second time for 2 hours at
270°C. The surfaces are then abraded using a belt linisher and a 0.81 mm thick foil of aluminium which has
been vapour degraded and scratch-brushed is clad on to one side taking the overal thickness to 8.51 mm.
This is rolled down to 0.89 mm, the stages being 4.8 mm, 3.4 mm, 2 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.1 mm and finally
0.89 mm. The strip is then trimmed and bonded to the steel backing after both the aluminium surface and
55 the steel have been vapour degreased, the aluminium has been scratch brushed and the steel surface belt-
linished.
The finished strip can then be formed into bearings as required, and optionally the bearings can be
electroplated should this be desired.
One of the features of alloys in accordance with the invention is the fact that they can be finished by
60 bore broaching. It is believed that the maximum silicon content for this is about 8%, otherwise the alloy is
too hard. Bore broaching is a technique in which a broach which is a circular edged cutting tool is pushed
through the surface of the finished bearing without rotation prior to plating to size. The tool may have from
three to eight, typically five cutting edges; the first would be for rough cutting and the last would be a
finishing cutter. The cutters may be made of either high speed tool steel or tungsten carbide. In addition,
65 the surfaces of the cutters may be coated with titanium nitride or a similar coating to improve operating life.
 0 131 428

Claims
2
1 A bearing alloy including aluminium, silicon, tin and copper characterised in that it comprises from
and from 0.2 to 3% by weight copper optionally 0.05%
to 8% by weight silicon, from 8 to 20% by weight tin,
in reticular form, and
5 by weight of strontium or sodium, the balance being aluminium the tin phase being
the silicon being present as particles which do not exceed 20 microns in size and that about 60% of the
silicon is incorporated in the tin phase.
2. An alloy as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that it comprises 4% by weight silicon, 10% by weight
tin and 1% by weight copper, the balance being aluminium.
jo 3. An alloy as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by comprising 0.05% by weight of
strontium or s o d i u m . . .
4. A composite strip for a plain bearing comprising a metal backing and a lining of an alloy comprising
aluminium silicon and copper characterised in that the lining comprises from 2 to 8% by weight silicon,
from 8 to 20% by weight tin and from 0.2 to 3% by weight copper, optionally 0.05% by weight of strontium
in reticular form and
75 or sodium, the balance being aluminium and the tin phase of the lining being
of the silicon, the silicon being present as particles which do not exceed 20
incorporating about 60%
microns in s i z e . .
the
5. A composite strip as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that the metal backing is of steel and
further includes a layer of aluminium or aluminium alloy between the backing and the lining.
strip
20 6 A composite strip as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterised by further including an overlay on
the lining, the overlay comprising an alloy consisting of lead/tin, lead/tin/copper, tin/copper, tin/antimony,
tin/copper/antimony or l e a d / t i n / c o p p e r / a n t i m o n y . .
of
7. A composite strip as claimed in Claim 6 characterised by further including an interlayer consisting
nickel, iron, silver, cobalt, copper/zinc or copper/tin between the lining and the overlay.
25 8. A method of manufacturing a composite strip for a plain bearing comprising a steel backing having a
billet of a bearing
bearing layer including aluminium, silicon, tin and copper, characterised by a casting
from 2 to 8% by weight silicon, from 8 to 20% by weight tin and from 0.2 to 3% copper
alloy comprising
aluminium, the tin phase being in
optionally 0.05% by weight of strontium or sodium, the balance being
reticular form, and the silicon being present as particles which do not exceed 20 microns in size and that
about 60% of the silicon is incorporated in the tin phase; annealing the billet for a first time; cold rolling the
30 side of the
annealed billet for a first time to form a strip annealing the strip for a second time; cladding one
the strip for a second time, down to the required final thickness;
strip with a layer of aluminium; cold rolling
and bonding the aluminium layer of the strip to the steel backing to form the composite strip.
the
9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 characterised by further including the steps .of forming
composite strip to the desired shape and finishing the bearing surface by a bore broaching technique.
35
10. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 characterised by further including the step of applying a
soft overlay to the finished bearing surface, the overlay being an alloy of lead/tin, lead/tin/copper,
tin/copper, tin/antimony, tin/copper/antimony, or lead/tin/copper/antimony.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10 characterised by further including the step of applying an
to
40 interlayer of nickel, iron, silver, cobalt, copper/zinc and copper/tin to the finished bearing surface, prior
the application of the soft overlay.

Patentanspriiche

45 1. Lagerlegierung, welche Aluminium, Silicium, Zinn und Kupfer einschlieEt, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daB sie 2 bis 8 Gew.-% Silicium, 8 bis 20 Gew.-% Zinn und 0,2 bis 3 Gew.-% Kupfer, gegebenenfalls 0,05
Gew.-% Strontium oder Natrium umfalSt, wobei der Rest Aluminium ist, die Zinnphase in netzformiger
Gestalt vorliegt und das Silicium als Teilchen vorhanden ist, die eine GrdlSe von 20 urn nicht uberschreiten,
und dalS etwa 60% des Siliciums in der Zinnphase einverleibt sind.
so 2. Legierung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da(J sie 4 Gew.-% Silicium, 10 Gew.-% Zinn
und 1 Gew.-% Kupfer umfalSt, wobei der Rest Aluminium ist.
3. Legierung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daft sie 0,05 Gew.-% Strontium oder
Natrium umfaftt.
4. Zusammengesetzter Streifen fur ein Zapfenlager, der eine Metallunterlage und eine Ausfutterung
55 aus einer Aluminium, Silicium und Kupfer enthaltenden Legierung umfafSt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daft
die Ausfutterung 2 bis 8 Gew.-% Silicium, 8 bis 20 Gew.-% Zinn und 0,2 bis 3 Gew.-% Kupfer,
gegebenenfalls 0,05 Gew.-% Strontium oder Natrium, umfalSt, wobei der Rest Aluminium ist, und die
Zinnphase der Ausfutterung in netzformiger Gestalt vorliegt und etwa 60% des Siliciums einverleibt
enthalt, wobei das Silicium als Teilchen vorhanden ist, welche eine GrolSe von 20 um nicht uberschreiten.
60 5. Zusammengesetzter Streifen nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da(S die Metallunterlage
aus Stahl ist und der Streifen weiters eine Schichte aus Aluminium oder Aluminiumlegierung zwischen der
Unterlage und der Ausfutterung einschlielSt.
6. Zusammengesetzter Streifen nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da(S er weiters eine
Auflage auf der Ausfutterung einschliefct, welche Auflage eine Legierung, bestehend aus Blei/Zinn,
65 Blei/Zinn/Kuper, Zinn/Kupfer, Zinn/Antimon, Zinn/Kupfer/Antimon oder Blei/Zinn/Kupfer/Antimon, umfalSt.
 0 131 428

7. Zusammengesetzter Streifen nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, date er weiters eine

Zwischenschichte, bestehend aus Nickel, Eisen, Silber, Kobalt, Kupfer/Zink oder Kupfer/Zinn zwischen.der
Ausfutterung und der Auflage einschlielSt.
8, Verfahren zur Herstellung eines zusammengesetzten Streifens fur ein Radiallager, umfassend eine
s Stahiunterlage, die eine Aluminium, Silicium, Zinn und Kupfer einschlieftende Lagerschichte aufweist,
gekennzeichnet durch einen Gufcblock aus einer Lagerlegierung, die 2 bis 8 Gew.-% Silicium, 8 bis 20
Gew.-% Zinn und 0,2 bis 3% Kupfer, gegebenenfalls 0,05 Gew.-% Strontium oder Natrium umfafSt, wobei
der Rest Aluminium ist, die Zinnphase in netzformiger Gestalt vorliegt und des Silicium als Teilchen
vorhanden ist, welche eine Grofce von 20 urn nicht iiberschreiten, und daft etwa 60% des Siliciums in der
10 Zinnphase einverleibt sind; erstmaliges Glilhen des Blockes; Kaltwalzen des gegliihten Blockes ein erstes
Mai unter Bildung eines Streifens, Gluhen des Streifens ein Zweites Mai; Plattierung einer Seite des
Streifens mit einer Schichte aus Aluminium; Kaltwalzen des Streifens ein zweites Mai, hinunter bis zu der
geforderten Enddicke; und Binden der Aluminiumschichte des Streifens an die Stahiunterlage unter
Bildung des zusammengesetzten Streifens.
is 9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, gekennzeichnet durch weiteres Einfugen der Schritte zur Bildung des
zusammengesetzten Streifens zu der gewiinschten Gestalt und Enbehandeln der Lageroberflache durch
Bohr-Raumen.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, gekennzeichnet durch weiteres Einfugen des Schrittes zum
Aufbringen einer weichen Auflage auf die enbehandelte Lageroberflache, wobei die Auflage eine
20 Legierung als Blei/Zinn, Blei/Zinn/Kupfer, Zinn/Kupfer, Zinn/Antimon, Zinn/Kupfer/Antimon oder Blei/Zinn/
Kupfer/Antimon ist.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, gekennzeichnet durch weiteres Einfugen des Schrittes zum Auf-
bringen einer Zwischenschichte aus Nickel, Eisen, Silber, Kobalt, Kupfer/Zink und Kupfer/Zinn auf die end-
behandelte Lageroberflache vor dem Aufbringen der weichen Auflage.
25
Revendications

1. Alliage de palier comprenant de I'aluminium, du silicium, de retain et du cuivre caracterise en ce

qu'il comprend de 2 a 8% en poids de silicium, de 8 a 20% en poids d'etain, et de 0,2 a 3% en poids de
30 cuivre, en option 0,05% en poids de strontium ou de sodium, le complement etant de I'aluminium et la
phase etain etant sous forme reticulaire, et le silicium etant present sous forme de particules qui n'excedent
pas la taille de 20 microns et qu'environ 60% du silicium est incorpore dans la phase etain.
2. Alliage selon la revendication 1 caracterise en ce qu'il comprend 4% en poids de silicium, 10% en
poids d'etain et 1% en poids de cuivre, le complement etant de I'aluminium.
35 3. Alliage selon I'une quelconque des revendications precedentes caracterise en ce qu'il comprend
0,05% en poids de strontium ou de sodium.
4. Bande composite pour un palier lisse comprenant un support metallique et une garniture en un
alliage comprenant de I'aluminium, du silicium et du cuivre caracterise en ce que le revetement comprend
de 2 a 8% en poids de silicium, de 8 a 20% en poids d'etain et de 0,2 a 3% en poids de cuivre, en option
40 0,05% en poids de strontium ou de sodium, le complement etant de I'aluminium et la phase etain de la
garniture etant sous forme reticulaire et comprenant environ 60% du silicium, le silicium etant present sous
forme de particules qui ne depassent pas la taille de 20 microns.
5. Bande composite selon la revendication 4 caracterisee en ce que le support metallique est en acier et
que la bande comprend en plus une couche d'aluminium ou d'alliage d'aluminium entre le support et la
45 garniture.
6. Bande composite selon la revendication 4 ou la revendication 5 caracterisee par la presence
supplemental d'un revetement superficiel sur la garniture, le revetement superficiel comprenant un
alliage constitue de plomb/etain, plomb/etain/cuivre, etain/cuivre, etain/antimoine, etain/cuivre/antimoine
du plomb/etain/cuivre/antimoine.
so 7. Bande composite selon la revendication 6 caracterisee en plus par I'adjonction d'une couche
intermediate constitute de nickel, fer, argent, cobalt, cuivre/zinc ou cuivre/etain entre la garniture et le
revetement superficiel.
8. Procede de fabrication d'une bande composite pour un palier lisse comprenant un support en acier
ayant une couche de palier comprenant de I'aluminium, du silicium, de retain et du cuivre, caracterise par
55 le moulage d'une billette d'alliage de palier comprenant de 2 a 8% en poids de silicium, de 8 a 20% en poids
d'etain et de 0,2 a 3% en poids de cuivre, en option 0,05% en poids de strontium ou de sodium, le
complement etant de I'aluminium, la phase etain etant sous forme reticulaire, et le silicium etant present
sous forme de particules qui n'excedent pas la taille de 20 microns et qu'environ 60% du silicium est
incorpore dans la phase etain; recuire une premiere fois la billette; laminer a froid la billette recuite une
so premiere fois pour former une bande; recuire la bande une seconde fois; plaquer une face de la bande avec
une couche d'aluminium; laminer a froid la bande une seconde fois jusqu'a l'epaisseur finale requise; et
fixer la couche d'aluminium de la bande sur le support en acier pour former la bande composite.
9. Procede selon la revendication 8, caracterise en plus par I'adjonction des etapes de formage de la
bande composite en la forme souhaitee etfinir la surface de palier par une technique de pergage-alesage.
65 10. Procede selon la revendication 8 ou la revendication 9, caracterise en plus par I'adjonction de
 0 131 428

I'etape d'application d'un revetement superficiel mou a la surface finie de palier, le revetement superficiel
etant un alliage de plomb/etain, plomb/etain/cuivre, etain/cuivre, etain/antimoine, etain/cuivre/antimoine,
ou plomb/etain/cuivre/antimoine.
11. Procede selon la revendication 10, caracterise en plus par I'adjonction de I'etape d'application
d'une couche intermediaire de nickel, fer, argent, cobalt, cuivre/zinc et cuivre/etain a la surface finie de
palier, avant ('application d'un revetement superficiel mou.

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